Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey to use teammates’ World Cup success as Wales motivation

Arsenal midfield Aaron Ramsey is keen for international success with Wales, report the Mirror, after seeing Emirates Stadium teammates Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski return to the club this summer with World Cup winners’ medals around their necks.

Wales have failed to reach a major tournament since 1958, but the expansion of the European Championships to 24 teams for the 2016 tournament, coupled with something of a golden generation emerging in the Welsh midfield, will give Chris Coleman and his side hope of ending the long wait.

A kind group for Wales also gives them an exceptional chance of at least making third place, behind Belgium and Bosnia & Herzegovina, with Israel and Cyprus looking like their big rivals for a likely play-off place.

Alongside the likes of Gareth Bale and Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen, Ramsey is keen for success with his country:

But the big thing about watching those games was thinking about hopefully being there with Wales and what it would be to go to a World Cup or a European Championship.”

“Me and Gareth Bale achieved things at club level last season and you do want that same feeling with the national team.”